Search This Blog

How Much Is That Car In The Window?

Every time I am in Sydney, I never fail to compare car prices here with the ones we pay back home. Cringe worthy ... it also helps to explain why so many expats in Malaysia end up driving beaten down pathetic cars because they just could not allow themselves to pay such exorbitant prices for the cars in Malaysia.

I am looking at the papers now and saw that one can drive away with Bentley Continental Flying Spur, its in silver tempest, and even though its a demonstrator, I think its exceptional at A$339,950 (RM850,000).... or you can opt for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe for just A$288,888 (RM740,000).

OK, lets bring things down to earth. The new 2009 Special Edition Toyota Camry Touring, drive away at A$29,990 (RM75,000)... do you want to cry now??? Oh, it also comes with 17" alloys, rear lip spoiler, dual zone aircon and ta-dah... a 6 disc CD changer.

Let me browse some more, a new Honda CRV Sport goes for A$39,990 (RM100,000). Aaah.. they have a small promotion on Volvo cars: you can drive away a new Volvo XC70 for A$60,000; an S80 for A$74,000; or and XC90 for A$72,000. Just multiply by 2.5x.

Even the starter Porsche Boxster, brand new is going for just A$113,000!!!

I have mentioned this many times, how much longer do we need to subsidise the Protons and Peroduas. Look at the average per capita of Malaysians, and how much of our spending power has been going down the drain thanks to that one item... CARS!!! You get developed countries with 3x or 4x our per capita income paying about 40% cheaper for car prices - mana kepala hotak engkau???.. Its a hugely inefficient allocation of resources. I don't mind supporting our local industries for a few years to get them to grow up strong... but gawd... how many fucking years NOW, 15??? 20??? A whole generation has been basically GIVING money to Proton and Perodua... do it this way... JUST TAKE THE DEDUCTION FROM OUR PAY PACKET instead, why bother???

Similar like a house in the cities, a car is the second highest liabilities in a worker. Still puzzle, why u had Ford as yr portfolio, recovery play or buffett investment?

Making an affordable price for house and car would definite help the young lads who starts off in working life. They could use the savings for a trip like you to Sydney.

While no hope for quick reduction in corporate and personal income tax, I believe it is good to adjust the car price before the oil price shoot up again. While saying so, this will be bloody blows for those who own and still paying the expensive one.

I cann't wait to see a normal IT programmer driving a Ferrari to work (Not the crook who appears in TV3). However, this is already a fact in some of the countries.

Tear in my eyes for years about "harga kereta" thing in "our"#1 bolehland here.You can name it tons of reason for our "pride" #2 to continue their car. Secure Job la, Tech upgrade la, Name la, banyak-banyak lagi.....For me I think, Selfish is the root for all this shit!

Given Malaysian love for cars, the roads will be in a gridlock in no time if cars are sold "cheap". The public transport systems should be efficient first before any major adjustments in car pricing - something I don't think will happen in most of our lifetime.

Hi Dali,I think it is a form of myoptic "enslavement" that we have to pay such high prices. In the greater conspiracy theory, I believe it is to check the spending of Malaysians as we all know that we all aspire to drive a car (a good one if at all possible). Imagine if the money we save we use it to exchange for US$. Ringgit will be dead in the waterlah!Anyway, I really enjoy your articles.regardsqlobe

Popular posts from this blog

REPOST: Its been more than two years since I posted on my sifu. This is probably the most significant posting I had done thus far that does not involve business or politics. My circle of close friends and business colleagues have benefited significantly from his treatment.

My Master, Dr. Law Chin Han (from my iPhone)

Where shall I start? OK, just based on real life experiences of those who are close to me. The entire Tong family (Bukit Kiara Properties) absolutely swear that he is the master of masters when it comes to acupuncture (and dentistry as well). To me, you can probably find many great dentists, but to find a real Master in acupuncture, thats a whole different ballgame.

I am not big aficionado of Chinese medicine or acupuncture initially. I guess you have to go through the whole shebang to appreciate the real life changing effects from a master.

My business partner and very close friend went to him after 15 years of persistent gout problem, he will get his heavy attacks at least…

PUC has tried to reinvent itself following the untimely passing of its founder last year. His younger brother, who was highly successful in his own right, was running Pictureworks in a number of countries in Asia.

The Shares Price Rise & Possible Catalysts

Share price has broken its all time high comfortably. The rise has been steady and not at all volatile, accompanied by steady volume, which would indicate longer term investors and some funds already accumulating nd not selling back to the market.

Potential Catalyst #1

The just launched Presto app. Tried it and went to the briefing. Its a game changer for PUC for sure. They have already indicated that the e-wallet will be launched only in 1Q2018. Now what is Presto, why Presto. Its very much like Lazada or eBay or Alibaba. Lazada is a platform for retailers to sell, full stop. eBay is more for the personal one man operations. Alibaba is more for wholesalers and distributors.

I would like to extend my prediction that the bull run for Bursa stocks should continue to run well till the end of the year. What we are seeing for the past 3 weeks was a general lull where volume suddenly shrunk but the general trend is still intact. My reasons for saying so:

a) the overall equity markets globally will be supported by a benign recovery complemented by a timid approach to raising rates by most central banks

b) thanks to a drastic bear run for most commodities, and to a lesser extent some oil & gas players, the undertone for "cost of materials" have been weak and has pr…